On the Winnipeg Jets and San Jose Sharks …
Sportsnet: Elliotte Friedman was asked if he thinks the Winnipeg Jets will be looking for a defenseman to replace the injured Jacob Trouba, who will be out for an extended period of time.
Friedman notes that the Jets have Dustin Byfuglien and Tyler Myers already on the right side, and with Trouba coming back this year, so they may look at adding on the other side. They have Toby Enstrom, Josh Morrissey, and Dmitry Kulikov on the left side, but if GM Kevin Cheveldayoff could find someone that could play ahead of those three, thinks he might do it.
Friedman was asked about the Jets and Sharks swapping a defenseman for a forward as the Sharks could use some help up front with Joe Thornton‘s injury.
There was some talk at the All-Star break that the Sharks were looking for some offensive help in the short-term, but after looked into it, not as convinced that it’s going to happen. The Sharks will have upwards of $20 in cap space this offseason and they may not want to dig into that. They may also not want to move their first-round draft pick.
On the Pittsburgh Penguins …
TSN: Frank Seravalli thinks the Pittsburgh Penguins will be the first team to start the trade ‘march.’ There has been some talk they could be in on Evander Kane, that they could use a winger.
Servalli adds they desperately need a third line center to replace Nick Bonino. They tried Riley Sheahan on the third line and that hasn’t worked out as they had hoped.
The Penguins lost a lot over the offseason and they weren’t able to adequately replace them.
Gord Miller notes that Penguins GM Jim Rutherford likes to move early, and wonders if now Sabres GM Jason Botterill would move in the same way.